U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
Photographer: Erin Schaff / The New York Times / Bloomberg
Photographer: Erin Schaff / The New York Times / Bloomberg
Vice President Mike Pence will attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, breaking ranks with President Donald Trump, who said he would not attend.
Pence plans to attend the Jan. 20 event, according to two people familiar with his plans who asked that they not identify themselves by discussing internal deliberations. Trump, in the final tweet before Twitter suspended his account on Friday, said he “will not go to the inauguration.”
On Wednesday, the vice president challenged Trump’s call to cancel the election and instead fulfilled his ceremonial duty of presiding over Congress’ acceptance of the results of the Electoral College.
During the procedure, an angry crowd of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol and advanced security, bursting into the building and causing the evacuation of lawmakers and others. Five people were killed in the melee, including a police officer.
On Friday, Biden, in statements to reporters, said he agreed that Trump should not attend the inauguration, but that Pence was “welcome” and that he would be honored if the vice president attended.
“I would be honored to have him there,” Biden said.